Plate with collapsible inserts

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose plate including a support surface with a handle and at least one aperture. The multipurpose plate also including at least one collapsible container that is removably inserted through the at least one aperture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/775,935, filed Mar. 11, 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all intended purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to plates and, in particular, to plates that are multi-functional.

BACKGROUND

The food activity industry has expanded through neighborhood cookouts, camping, sporting events and festivals. However, the plates that are used during these events provide inadequate support for the food and/or cannot be reused.

Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for a better way for eating food in an active setting. It is to the provision of solutions to these and other problems that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY

Generally described, the present invention relates to a plate with expandible cups removably secured thereto. The cups can be expanded to receive liquid food and/or removable to function on their own or use as a drinking cup. The cups can be collapsed to support solid food.

In a first example embodiment, the invention relates to a multipurpose plate that includes a support surface with a handle and at least one aperture. The multipurpose plate also including at least one collapsible container that is removably inserted through the at least one aperture.

In a second example embodiment, the invention relates to s multipurpose plate that includes a support surface with a handle and a pair of apertures. The apertures are positioned in equatorial alignment with the handle. The multipurpose plate also includes a pair of flexibly collapsible cups that are removably inserted through the pair of apertures.

In a third example embodiment, the invention relates to a method for supporting solid and/or liquid food. The method includes gripping a plate with a support surface, a handle, and at least one aperture. The method also includes removably inserting at least one flexibly collapsible container within the at least one aperture. The method further includes expanding the at least one flexibly collapsible container to receive liquid food or collapsing the flexibly collapsible container to receive solid food.

The specific techniques and structures employed to improve over the drawbacks of the prior devices and accomplish the advantages described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments and the appended drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a plate with collapsible inserts according to a first example embodiment of the present invention, shown with the inserts in an expanded position.

FIG. 2 is an underneath perspective view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 1, as viewed along line 3 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 1, shown with the inserts in an expanded position.

FIG. 6 is the left side view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 5, shown with the inserts in a collapsed position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a front side view of the plate with collapsible inserts shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plate with collapsible inserts. As depicted in FIGS. 1-9, the example plate 10 has a planar support surface 12, a sidewall 26 extending upwardly from, and surrounding, the outer edge of the planar support surface, and a ridge 14 positioned around the top edge of the sidewall. The planar support surface 12 can have a circular shape, as depicted, or can have an alternative shape, for example an oval, rectangle, square, or other predetermined shape. The planar support surface 12, sidewall 26 and ridge 14 are preferably constructed to have mechanical resistance sufficient in order to support food items. Preferably, the planar support surface 12, sidewall 26 and ridge 14 are constructed of durable material, for example plastic, specifically food-grade plastic. More preferably, the planar support surface 12, sidewall 26 and ridge 14 are constructed of a rigidly flexible material, for example plastic. More preferably still, the planar support surface 12, sidewall 24 and ridge 14 are uniformly constructed into a single structure, for example through a co-molding or injection molding process. The sidewall 26 preferably has a depth sufficient to contain liquid and semi-liquid food items placed onto the planar support surface 12.

As depicted, the example plate 10 can have a handle 20 positioned along the ridge 14. The handle 20 can be uniformly constructed with the ridge 14 through a co-molding or injection molding process. As depicted, the handle 20 can be a bulge or lip that extends a particular length, and from a particular location, along the ridge 14 circumference. The handle 20 is preferably constructed to provide sufficient mechanical support so that the plate 10 can be held or gripped with one hand at just the handle location.

As particularly depicted in FIG. 8, the planar support surface 12 has a pair of apertures. Preferably, the planar support surface 12 can have one larger aperture 30 and one smaller aperture 32. The apertures 30, 32 preferably have a circular shape, however, alternative shapes can be similarly useful, as desired. The circumference of the apertures 30, 32 can have a lip receiver channel. As depicted, the apertures 30, 32 are positioned with their center points aligned along an axis that extends between opposing points along the circumference of the planar support surface 12. Preferably, the apertures 30, 32 are positioned with their center points aligned along an axis that extends between the midpoint of the handle 20 and a directly opposing point on the ridge 14. More preferably, the larger aperture 30 is positioned along an equatorial axis between the smaller aperture 32 and the handle 20.

As depicted, a pair of container cup inserts 16, 18 can be inserted into the pair of apertures 30, 32 in the planar support surface 12. The pair of inserts 16, 18 can be removably inserted into the pair of apertures 30, 32 so that the inserts can be removed for individual use or cleaning. Preferably, the inserts 16, 18 are constructed of food-grade silicone, so they can function as cups for drinking or holding food. A larger insert 16 can be inserted into the larger aperture 30 and a smaller insert 18 can be inserted into the smaller aperture 32. The inserts 16, 18 each have a base 36, a stepped sidewall 38, a rim 40 and a container volume 42. The rim 40 can be removably secured within the lip receiver channel around the circumference of the apertures 16, 18, for example by snapping the rim into and out of the lip receiver channel. The rim 40 of each insert 16, 18 can alternatively be a lip overhang extending circumferentially outward from the top of the container volume 42. The rim 40 can alternatively have an outer circumference that is greater than the aperture 30, 32 circumferences, so that the rim sits on top of the support surface 12 when inserted through the apertures. The larger insert 16 can have greater depth, greater base 36 and rim 40 diameters, and a greater number of steps along the sidewall 38, than the smaller insert 18. The rim 40 can form a gravity-driven liquid-impermeable seal with the aperture 30, 32 circumferences when liquid is held on the plate 10 and within the inserts 16, 18. Alternatively, the inserts 16, 18 can be impermeably secured within the apertures 30, 32 with an adhesive applied between the insert rim 40 and the respective aperture. In use, the position of the larger insert 16 being closer to the handle 20 improves balance with there is also food contained in the small insert 18.

As particularly depicted in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7, the inserts 16, 18 are collapsible and expandable. The steps along the stepped sidewall 38 sequentially increase in diameter from the base 36 to the rim 40. The stepped sidewall 38 is constructed of flexible material that can collapse into a folded state and expand into an expanded state. During the collapsed state, each step folds into and collapses within the circumferentially next-largest step. In the completely collapsed state, the container volume 42 of the inserts 16, 18 is reduced and the depth of the sidewall 38 is defined by the circumferentially largest step depth. During the expanded state, the container volume 42 of the inserts 16, 18 is expanded by pushing each circumferential step out from within its circumferentially next-largest step. During use, the flexible material causes the smaller circumferential steps to snap into and out of the circumferentially next-largest step once each step is pushed beyond a threshold stable transition position.

During use with the planar support surface 12, the inserts 16, 18 can be expanded to receive liquids or other materials, for example to use as a cup for drinking or a bowl for soup. Alternatively, the inserts 16, 18 can be collapsed to lay flat and substantially flush with the support surface 12 if the container volume 42 is not needed.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters of the example embodiments described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only. Thus, the terminology is intended to be broadly construed and is not intended to be unnecessarily limiting of the claimed invention. For example, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, the term “or” means “and/or,” and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, any methods described herein are not intended to be limited to the sequence of steps described but can be carried out in other sequences, unless expressly stated otherwise herein.

While the claimed invention has been shown and described in example forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multipurpose plate comprising: a support surface comprising a handle and at least one aperture; and at least one collapsible container removably inserted through the at least one aperture.
 2. The multipurpose plate of claim 1, wherein the support surface comprises a ridge.
 3. The multipurpose plate of claim 2, wherein the handle is positioned along the ridge.
 4. The multipurpose plate of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is in equatorial alignment with the handle.
 5. The multipurpose plate of claim 1, wherein the at least one collapsible container comprises a stepped flexible sidewall extending between a base and a rim.
 6. The multipurpose plate of claim 5, wherein the stepped flexible sidewall comprises a plurality of circumferential steps.
 7. The multipurpose plate of claim 6, wherein the plurality of circumferential steps sequentially increase in diameter between the base and the rim.
 8. The multipurpose plate of claim 7, wherein the plurality of circumferential steps are adapted to flexibly fold up into and out of a step with the sequentially next-largest diameter.
 9. The multipurpose plate of claim 1, wherein the support surface comprises food-grade plastic.
 10. The multipurpose plate of claim 1, wherein the at least one collapsible container comprises food-grade plastic.
 11. The multipurpose plate of claim 1, wherein the support surface comprises a large aperture and a small aperture.
 12. The multipurpose plate of claim 11, wherein the large aperture is positioned between the small aperture and the handle.
 13. The multipurpose plate of claim 11, further comprising a large collapsible container and a small collapsible container.
 14. The multipurpose plate of claim 13, wherein the large collapsible container is removably inserted into the large aperture and the small collapsible container is removably inserted into the small aperture.
 15. The multipurpose plate of claim 11, wherein the large aperture and the small aperture are positioned in equatorial alignment with the handle.
 16. A multipurpose plate comprising: a support surface comprising a handle and a pair of apertures, the apertures are positioned in equatorial alignment with the handle; and a pair of flexibly collapsible cups removably inserted through the pair of apertures.
 17. The multipurpose plate of claim 16, wherein the pair of apertures comprises one large aperture and one small aperture, and the pair of flexibly collapsible cups comprise one large flexibly collapsible cup and one small flexibly collapsible cup.
 18. The multipurpose plate of claim 16, wherein the pair of flexibly collapsible cups comprise a stepped flexible sidewall extending between a base and a lip.
 19. The multipurpose plate of claim 18, wherein the stepped flexible sidewall comprises a plurality of circumferential steps sequentially increasing in diameter between the base and the lip.
 20. A method for supporting solid and/or liquid food, the method comprising: gripping a plate comprising a support surface, a handle, and at least one aperture; removably inserting at least one flexibly collapsible container within the at least one aperture; and expanding the at least one flexibly collapsible container to receive liquid food or collapsing the flexibly collapsible container to receive solid food. 